What to binge-watch while it’s hot
Randy Cordova, Samantha Incorvaia, Garrett Mitchell, Lita Nadebah Beck, Bill Goodykoontz and TreNesha Striggles
Summer is here in full force, which means it’s a great time to veg out in front of your television or preferred streaming device.
Between Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, there’s no shortage of shows available at your fingertips. And we’ve got suggestions for just about everyone, whether you’re looking for action, comedy, drama, horror or even reality TV.
Here’s 10 shows we suggest checking out this summer, listed from the most recent to the oldest.
‘GLOW’
Genre: Comedy. Network: Netflix. Number of seasons: Two. The second season premieres June 29.
Description: The show is inspired by (but not based on) the beloved 1980s pro-wrestling promotion and TV show “Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.” The Netflix version focuses on the fictional Ruth Wilder, an out-of-work actress who at last gets a break when she tries out for “GLOW.” Her best-friend-turned-frenemy Debbie, a former soapopera actress who left Hollywood to be a
stay-at-home mom, also hits the prowrestling biz when her happily-ever-after falls apart.
Why you should watch it: With its big hair, power-ballad soundtrack and Lycra outfits, “GLOW” is glorious ‘80s nostalgia. And it’s a show that really gets what makes pro wrestling shine — the over-the-top characters, the ridiculous stories and old-fashioned good vs. evil storytelling. (Debbie’s realization at her first wrestling show that, “Oh my God. It’s a soap opera! This whole thing is a soap opera,” is a perfect explanation of the appeal.) But “GLOW” is also about women and their stories, and about friendship and learning how to express yourself. It dispenses with the usual cat-fighting, back-stabbing antics that usually power stories about women and their relationships. These ladies genuinely care about and support each other. In the second season, which is available to stream on Friday, the women of “GLOW” wrestle with becoming local celebrities. And Ruth and Debbie must grapple with the issues from season one that drove them apart as they adjust to the routine of shooting a TV show.
Where to watch it: Netflix.
Related shows: If you enjoyed zaniness of the show’s wrestling, “Lucha Underground” (also streaming on Netflix) is a great place to start. “Orange is the New Black” and “Broad City” also explore women’s friendship. — Lita Nadebah Beck
‘Luke Cage’
Genre: Action / drama.
Network: Netflix.
Number of seasons: Two. Description: Luke Cage is the story of “Harlem’s Hero,” a black man with super strength and unbreakable skin. After a tragic event, Luke struggles to save his neighborhood from dangerous crime bosses, all the time wearing his trademark hoodie and swagger.
Why you should watch it: Mahershala Ali, Mike Colter and Simone Missick. This cast is as beautiful as they are charismatic. This show will pull you in with its noir vibe, dope soundtracks and nods to black culture, history and pride. It’s a cool introduction to the darker side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Where to watch it: Netflix.
Related shows: The other Marvel Netflix shows are also worth a look: “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones” and “The Defenders.” And DC’s “Black Lightning” is the latest and best of the CW superhero shows. — TreNesha Striggles
‘The Real Housewives of New York City’
Genre: Reality.
Network: Bravo.
Number of seasons: 10. Description: An elite group of urbanites balance love, career, family and friendships amid the bustling backdrop of the Big Apple. The original five women — Countess Luann de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin and Alex McCord — contrast and clash as new cast members come into the fold to stir drama.
Why you should watch it: If you ever pined for a hybrid of “Sex & the City” and “Grey Gardens,” the New York City women deliver on all fronts. From Frankel’s incessant promotion of her SkinnyGirl brand to de Lesseps’ mesmerizing shift from Emily Post wannabe to the “countess of cool” and, later, jailbird, these ladies are some of the most complex on reality TV. Some highlights? “Scary Island” in season 3; a pirate booty-call in season 5; a cast member loses her head (and prosthetic leg) in season 6; and any Agatha Christie-esque night spent in the Berkshires all spell for head-shaking entertainment.
Where to watch it: Hulu or bravo tv.com (must have a cable provider login).
Related shows: “Ladies of London,” “Blood, Sweat & Heels,” and any iteration of the “Real Housewives” franchise. — Garrett Mitchell
‘The Americans’
Genre: Drama / espionage. Network: FX.
Number of seasons: Six. Description: It’s the early 1980s and Cold War paranoia is sweeping across the land. In this world, we meet Philip and Elizabeth (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell), two deep-cover Russian spies who live in Washington, D.C., posing as a pair of travel agents. They are raising two children who are oblivious to their parents’ true identities. Also clueless: Stan (Noah Emmerich), the FBI agent who moves in next door. It’s a marital drama crossed with an espionage caper that is punctuated by some startling bursts of violence: How do you get a corpse to fit in a suitcase? “The Americans” will illustrate, in gruesome, humorously dark fashion.
Why you should watch it: In its six seasons, “The Americans” quietly emerged as one of those shows that gets under your skin. It was never simply a spy story; instead, it was a slow-burn tale that ultimately emerged as a riveting look at the puzzling nature of relationships. Really, how well do we know each other? There are wonderfully vivid characters and story arcs throughout; Philip’s cruel relationship with Martha, an FBI secretary, was brilliant and heartbreaking (Emmy love, anyone?) Rhys and Russell became a reallife couple during the show’s run, which could be one reason why the chemistry between the two rings so true. Even if it was a never a major player in ratings or buzz, “The Americans” will go down as one of the greats.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime, iTunes.
Related shows: “The Sopranos” touches on domestic issues with an equally firm hand. — Randy Cordova
‘Killing Eve’
Genre: Mystery.
Network: BBC America.
Number of seasons: One. A second season has been ordered.
Description: Sandra Oh plays a bored MI5 desk jockey who stumbles into investigating a brilliant, soulless assassin (Jodie Comer). Each woman becomes obsessed with the other.
Why you should watch it: Oh and Comer are two big reasons. They’re flatout great, both of them. So is Fiona Shaw as Oh’s boss. The story hurtles along at a fast pace, shedding characters along the way. You’ll think, oh man, they can’t do
that. And then they do. And the show just gets better.
Where to watch it: Stream all eight episodes for free on BBC America’s site.
Related shows: There’s not much else like it, but “Sneaky Pete,” “Ozark” and “Prime Suspect.” — Bill Goodykoontz
‘The Exorcist’
Genre: Horror.
Network: Fox.
Number of seasons: Two. Description: Critically appreciated but criminally low-rated, this moody exercise in terror initially focused on an affluent family in Chicago battling demonic forces. It was terrifically eerie, especially as it gradually was revealed that evil had penetrated the upper reaches of the Catholic church. Representing the diocese is Father Tomas (Alfonso Herrera), a charismatic novice priest from Mexico, and Father Marcus (Ben Daniels), a hardliving veteran British cleric. In season two, the priests (and the action) move to Seattle in pursuit of more evil, this time surrounding the patriarch (John Cho) of a family of foster children. If the show continued, you could imagine it following a similar pattern, with each season introducing new characters and locales around the priests.
Why you should watch it: Horror TV shows are notoriously unscary, but “The Exorcist” really delivers the chills, thanks to the unsettling atmosphere, clever scripts and engaging characters. It also boasts one of the all-time great plot twists in the first season, in which — major spoiler alert! — we learn how the show connects to the classic 1973 film. Seriously: I jumped out of my chair at the reveal (there’s another terrific plot twist in the second year). Making the show wonderfully human is the delightful chemistry between Herrera (a former Latin-pop star) and Daniels, who make their characters layered and believable. They should have been the next Mulder and Scully.
Where to watch it: Season 1 available on Hulu. Both seasons for sale on Amazon and iTunes.
Related shows: “Damien” (2016) was another attempt at adapting a big-screen horror franchise for TV. — Randy Cordova
‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Genre: Drama.
Network: ABC.
Number of seasons: 14. Description: Shonda Rhimes’ medical drama follows Dr. Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) personal and professional life with her friends at Seattle Grace Hospital (now the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital... Look, it’s a long story).
Why you should watch it: This rollercoaster ride of a show will leave you in tears half the time. It tackles large, relevant tragedies frequently such as mass shootings, natural disasters and transportation accidents. It’s painful, but we love seeing the characters develop with their surroundings. And you’ll never listen to “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol the same way again.
Where to watch it: Netflix, Hulu. Related shows: “Grey’s” spinoff “Private Practice” and the venerable “ER” are also great medical-drama options. And don’t forget to check out fellow Shondaland drama “Scandal.” — Samantha Incorvaia
‘Dynasty’
Genre: Drama.
Network: CW.
Number of seasons: One. Season 2 begins Friday, October 12.
Description: A reboot of the glamorous 1980s nighttime soap, the CW’s reboot reinvigorates the ruthlessly greedy Carringtons with injected sass and some much-needed diversity from its lily-white predecessors. Follow the Carringtons and Colbys as they strike deals, romance and slay enemies at every opportunity while turning looks and biting back.
Why you should watch it: This is pure, unadulterated escapism. “Dynasty” is the type of show where you’ll predict a line before it’s uttered and feel as though you could write a similar dishy spectacle. This go ‘round, daughter Fallon (played by Elizabeth Gillies) takes the front seat and provides much of the underlying drama of shady business deals and a cartel kidnapping before her estranged mother, Alexis (a scene-stealing Nicolette Sheridan), comes to town.
Where to watch it: Netflix.
Related shows: “Dirty Sexy Money,” “The Royals,” and “Gossip Girl.” Want to take a deep dive into the lily pond? The original 1981-1989 series is available to stream on Amazon Prime. — Garrett Mitchell
‘Downton Abbey’
Genre: Drama.
Network: PBS.
Number of seasons: Six. Description: The witty series follows the Crawleys, a wealthy British aristocratic family, and their servants throughout the early 20th century. It boasts a starstudded cast including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dan Stevens, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith and more.
Why you should watch it: When it’s hot out and all you want to do is lay on the couch, it’d be nice to have someone do everything for you. Live vicariously through “Downton Abbey” with that sentiment. This show made me laugh and root for the servants. It also does a great job in representing a wealthy aristocratic family’s changes when WWII and the Roaring ‘20s roll into the picture.
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime. Related shows: These shows are ones to check out: “The Crown,” “Upstairs Downstairs” and “Mr. Selfridge.” — Samantha Incorvaia
‘Friends’
Genre: Comedy.
Network: NBC.
Number of seasons: 10. Description: The 1994 classic follows the lives of six people who are all friends living in Manhattan. Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlac, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer star as the friends.
Why you should watch it: “Friends” will be there for you, especially when the outdoors is unbearable. This is the TV show that invented Phoebe’s famous “Smelly Cat” song, the Central Perk coffeehouse and the long-running “we were on a break” debate. There are plenty of one-liners and memories that will leave you cheering, laughing and crying. So what are you waiting for? “Pivot” to the couch now.
Where to watch it: Netflix. Related shows: “Will & Grace,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Seinfeld” are also solid network-TV comedies. — Samantha Incorvaia